But
as many mothers can attest, the awarding of a smiley-face sticker for
diligent nursing does nothing to make up for inadequate support for
women who want to breast-feed their babies while simultaneously
remaining employed outside the home. It’s possible to do both, and many
women do — but very few would argue that the federal or state government
offered much, if any, help.

Last week, Save the Children released its State of the World’s Mothers Report for 2012,
and in it, amid the detailed discussion of successes and failures of
all the world’s nations with respect to taking care of mothers and
infants, was this:

The United States ranks last on the
Breastfeeding Policy Scorecard. It is the only economically advanced
country – and one of just a handful of countries worldwide – where
employers are not required to provide any paid maternity leave after a
woman gives birth. There is also no paid
parental leave required by U.S. law. Mothers may take breaks from work
to nurse, but employers are not required to pay them for this time. Only
2 percent of hospitals in the United States have been certified as
“baby-friendly” and none of the provisions of the International Code of
Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes has been enacted into law. While 75
percent of American babies are initially breast-fed, only 35 percent
are being breast-fed exclusively at 3 months. To read more click HERE to go to the New York Times.